Discover Jaunpils: Castle, Museum and Nature Trails
Jaunpils combines a medieval castle, cultural and historical monuments, crafts and trails through the landscape.
The townscape is shaped by Jaunpils Castle, Jaunpils Lutheran Church and Jaunpils Watermill. The castle is one of the few medieval castles to have largely preserved its original appearance. At the same time, the documented sights range from an architectural monument of national significance to a preserved example of industrial heritage.
Jaunpils is therefore suited not only to a single castle visit. Depending on your interests, you can combine historic buildings, museum collections, craft activities, a brewery tour and trails along the riverbank or through wooded nature.
Key facts about Jaunpils
Construction of Jaunpils Castle began in 1301, according to the dating by J. G. Arnt. The complex is described as an irregularly laid-out fortified crusader castle with a courtyard surrounded by water. Its largely preserved original appearance makes it a particularly distinctive historical landmark of the town.
The Jaunpils Museum is located in the oldest part of Jaunpils Castle. It also covers the history of the larger and smaller estates of Jaunpils. Jaunpils Watermill is registered in Jaunpils as an architectural monument of national significance and is also considered a unique preserved example of industrial heritage.
Jaunpils Lutheran Church is also among the architectural monuments of national significance. Its construction began in 1592, making it one of the first churches built in the Duchy of Courland. In the cultural and historical context of the castle, church, museum and watermill, the development of the town can be traced through various types of buildings and collections.
What experiences are available besides the historic buildings?
Jaunpils Amatu mÄja offers the tour “From Sheep’s Back to Finished Workâ€, during which visitors can weave their own pattern into a textile. Other activities include basketry, clay activities, felt-making courses and master classes for children and adults.
Jaunpils Brewery offers small groups tours, beer with snacks and beer to take away.
Where can you find viewpoints and nature trails?
The tower of Jaunpils Lutheran Church offers a view of the cultural and historical centre of Jaunpils and the surrounding landscape. The viewpoint combines a visit to the church with a spatial orientation of the town.
For a walk, a path in Jaunpils Park leads along the riverbank to Love Stone. In the vicinity of Jaunpils, Kartavu Hill offers wooded nature trails. Features described there include a larch avenue, the rampart of a hillfort, rare trees and beaver dams. If, in addition to historic interiors, you are looking for impressions of the landscape, the park and Kartavu Hill provide two different additions to the town centre.
What other travel ideas are there?
You can find more travel ideas on the pages about Jurģi and Josti.
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Can you visit the interior of Jaunpils Castle without registering in advance?
Advance registration for a guided tour is required to visit the interior of Jaunpils Castle. The Jaunpils Museum is an exception. The castle courtyard and surrounding area can be visited free of charge.
What can you see at the Jaunpils Museum?
At the Jaunpils Museum, you can see models of Jaunpils and Dobele castles, the family tree of the von der Recke family, archaeological finds, and collections of coins and hunting equipment.
What activities does Jaunpils Amatu mÄja offer for children and adults?
The craft activities are aimed at children and adults.
What is the difference between Jaunpils Park and Kartavu Hill?
In Jaunpils Park, a path leads along the riverbank to Love Stone. Kartavu Hill is located in the vicinity of Jaunpils and offers wooded nature trails with a larch avenue, the rampart of a hillfort, rare trees and beaver dams.
To the higher-level travel overview: Jaunpils.
